London Mayor to visit China, PM still ‘not invited’

China will allow a visit by the Mayor of London but not senior government figures from the country, according to reports.

The Chinese Government has apparently ‘banned’ British government figures from the country because the Prime Minister and his deputy met the Dalai Lama last year, but the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has secured an invitation.

Johnson said that he was taking a delegation of business leaders in early October, as the UK considers allowing the Chinese to invest in a new nuclear power plant.

Asked whether he would go on a China trip alongside the Prime Minister, reports the Times of London, Johnson said: “Not unless he’s hiding in the plane hold.”

The Chinese appear to have made an exception to their stance for Mr Johnson, who is forging links of his own and told London press that he had a valuable meeting with Chinese investors yesterday morning.